DAVIS, Calif. -
Jason Phillips goal with 41 seconds remaining in the first half proved to be the game-winner as Chico State defeated UC Davis 4-1 in a California Collegiate Athletic Association men's soccer game on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at Aggie Field.

With the loss the Aggies fall to 9-4-4 on the season, 8-4-2 in conference play while the Wildcats improve to 15-4-1, 10-3-1 in CCAA action. Chico also captured the CCAA North division and will play next week at the CCAA Championships in Carson, Calif.

Both teams had chances early in the contest and it was Chico that broke through first in the 20th minute. Dustin Tong controlled the ball just outside the 18-yard box and sent a chip shot over the Aggie defense to a streaking Rusty Phillips. Phillips headed the ball past Aggie goalkeeper Nic Platter to put the Wildcats up 1-0. UC Davis would outshoot Chico 10-4 in the half and it looked as though the score would remain 1-0 entering halftime before the Wildcats struck again. With Chico possessing the ball on the Aggie side of the field, Brett Williams sent a low pass through the goal crease to the far post, where Jason Phillips controlled it and sent a low drive past Platter at the 44:19 mark.

In the second half the Aggies cut the lead to one as Steven Ernst's corner kick found Benjamin Swatez on the far side of the box. Swatez headed the balll to the top right corner of the net for his second goal of the season, giving the Aggies life. It did not last long as in the 65th minute, Kevin Kuiper sent a pass up the middle to Jaime Rodriguez. Rodriguez got past the Aggie defense and with Platter charging, took one touch before flicking it over Platter and into the empty net for the 3-1 lead.

Chris Wondolowski closed out the scoring at the 82:00 mark went he headed in a goal off a cross from Williams. It marked Wondolowski's team-leading ninth goal of the season.

"I thought we played well, doing the things we worked on during the week to prepare for the game," said Aggie head coach Dwayne Shaffer. "I think the back breaker was their second goal just before the half. It was unfortunate because it made us chase the game too much. It took too much to get the goal back and we didn't have it in the end.

"Chico is a good team, the best they've had in my seven years coaching against them," Shaffer added.
UC Davis will next be in action on Friday when travels to face Seattle Pacific University. Gametime is set for 7 p.m.